‘te The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, duly 30, 1997 It’s only fair SKEENA NDP MLA Hel- mut Giesbrecht isn’t apologizing for legislation giving hima pension. . First elected ‘in 1991, Giesbrecht was one of those MLAs cut loose when a pre- vious pension plan was eliminated in 1996. That’s because only: those who qualified by serving seven years or were. elected twice received pensions. Giesbrect and other MLAs elected in 1991 didn’t meet qualifications and so were granted any pension from that year until 1996, But last week’s legislation of service as pensionable time. In Gicsbrecht’s case that works out to a first year payment, should he retire when qualified in the Year 2000, of $18,423, “Bill 51 (the pension ex- tension act) is an act of con- tempt against taxpayers in this province and should be revoked immediately,'’ said Troy Lanigan of the Cana- dian Taxpayers Federation in estimating (he total pen- sion impact of the new legislation at nearly $20 million. The provisions are in- MLA defends pension pl that’s invested. “It’s simply crazy,’’ he said of the $430,000 that Giesbrecht would receive, all things considered, by the time he’s 75, Giesbrecht said the provi- sion of a pension for himself and the other MLAs simply rectifics a gap caused when the previous plan was eliminated. if this job was so lucrative, you'd think there'd be bunches of people running for it,” Giesbrecht said. belwcen the old pension - RADELET Tax Law Trusts + Corporate & Commercial 1930 - 1075 West Georgia Streai, Vancouver, B.C, V8E3C9 cal parties. And he said he and others were elected in 1991 wnder Phone:-604-689- 0678 & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors Fax: 604-989-1386 the expectation there would be a pension plan of some kind contributing, some day to their family income. Some MLAs might have fared better under pension plans atlached to the ov- cupations they had before entering office, Giesbrecht Dr. Tom Strong now Reeder tng om Ml ny Fr ™ +r metal Hos i # Relationship & Family Therapy © Ful Range of Individual Psychotherapy © Treining ond Seminars # Biief results oriented © Chronic pain & illness consultations plan and a new and un- defined group RRSP plan recommended by a citizens panel last year. Lanigan doesn’t question the idea of MLAs having pension plans, just the “Tn effect there were two classes of MLA —. those that benefited between 1995 and 1995 and those that didn’t,’’ he said. Giesbrecht added that the pension extension provision , f recognizes those five years tended to act as a bridging amount of public money was supported by all politi- Group wants referendum on the Nisga’a land claim A NEW GROUP calling itself the Citizens’ Voice on Na- tive Claims is beginning a campaign to force a provincial referendum on the pending Nisga’a treaty. It maintains a Nisga’a trealy, expected to be finished in the coming months, would create a third order of govern- met, permanently protected by the Constitution. “Tts high time our governments started listening to Brit- ish Columbians’ legitimate concerns about the Nisga’a deal,’’ said Citizens’ Voice executive director Martyn Brown, who once was the principal advisor to retiring B.C. Reform leader Jack Weisgerber. Brown says the group supports land claim settlements thal give native groups municipal-style self-government, with equal voting rights for everyone in its jurisdiction. “The Nisga’a model is more like provincial-style government for one: group of people, based solely on race and culture, with sweeping powers that would be set forever in the Constitution, before we even know if il will work,” Brown said. “‘Non-Nisga’ a residents subject to Nisga’a laws would Fraudsters face huge fines FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS say a company involved in a massive employment insurance fraud could face hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. As it is investigators have tracked down more than $450,000 in employment insurance claims wrongly paid lo company workers. More than 100 claims were found to have been frawdent- -ly filed by a company-organized scheme, says John Smith, an investigator with Human Resources Development Can- ada, Smith won t name the Prince Rupert-based fish products company, but did say it went out of business In early 1996. That means the company owners will be the focus of any attempt to lay up to $12,500 fines for each fraudulent claim. “It started off with an observation by an investigator. up in Prince Rupert — she noticed something fishy about the company,”’ said Smith. The company had issued 110 records of employment to different individuals, but in most cases, no proof of actual employment was found. While 120 records were issued, only 60 were used to set up employment insurance claims, explained Smith. With the introduction of a newly restyled line of refrigerator products. Maytag has revised its Refrigerafor Buylng Guide - one of the popular how-lo-buy series of booklets designed to help consumers make wise appliance purchase decisions. Purchasing a refcigerator is 2 major investment and the centre of most of today's kitchen make-overs, The value of a new refrigerator tests on more (han the initial price lag ofthe appliance. The amount of money spend every week on foods needing refrigeration makes up a significant parton of any houschold budget. erator saves mancy by keeplag these foods fresher longer. There are four major feature cale- pories consumers should consider when buying a refrigerator, advises Jule Bundy, Maytag's manager of con- sumer education. * The first is dependability, which Includes such considerations as the teputation of the dealer and the brand, the materials used and the Warranty, . * The second category is perfor- mance, A refrigerator is more than Just a “pretty closet for food". The right refrigerator, with ‘the right features, will keep food fresher long, « The primary features that impact energy efficiency, a third category are today's Improved. condensers and ‘high efficiency Insulation. Overloading “ind underloading can also decrease the efficiency of a refrigerator, so helping a family select the proper storage size for ils needs is tmporiant. » The final category Is conven- ience. A refrigerator that offers mare storage Dexibility, greater ease in cleaning and better access 10 food items is especially favaured. are: well-placed tomperahiré controls and tights, spill-proof shelves, deep, adjustable doar bins, and, on deluxe models, the ability ta dispense chilled water and crushed or cubed ice. Because people care about the Making wise appliance purchase Adependable, well-fearured refrig- mamma Features thal enhance convenience | Totem’s Countrywide Furniture & Appliance 4607 Lakelsa Ava. (alii Torraca (ESE) 1-800-819-1158 am 639-1158 Mie (325) quality of food they serve their families, and because they hate throw- ing away limp Letruce, moldy cheese, crystallized ice cream or spoiled cold cuts, Maylag has developed a practical guide to food storage. Called The Freshness Files, this 12-page, full colour booklet helps families gain the most from their food purchasing dollars. Ybe Freshness Files provides useful fips on proper food handling and storage practices. These fruits and vegetables placed aide by side show the dif. ference between products propery stored, for saveral days, Ina sealed Maytag crisper (left) versus pro- duced placed, for ihe same smount of tima, on shelves (right). Food scientists agree that faod handled and stored correctly will: © retain better nutridenal value © retain better flavour and texture besaleto eat : # stay fresher, .; longer ‘ : ‘The freshness Files also features information on how to check the tem, pereture of a freezer and refrigerator, how to safely store a variety of foads and howto stare lefavers. The booklet concludes with easy- to-read charts porteaying how long ceriain foods cart last in ihe refrigera- lor ireerer or pantry and remain fresh. Mage! : Lipo: : Ratigerator Buying ‘Guide, ‘a hand pocket-size reference, as additional tips. and. a shechlist to lisé- white shopping. The. booklet ts. silieNe Fes Mayteg, Newton; 1A: 50204. .- Whon: ordedng Individually, : please Specify the” particuadar: appliance vafrigerator’” washer, dryer, . dish washer or gas or electric range, "Tha value has never beer better’ not even have the right to vote. As a precedent for the 60 olher treaties yet to come, il’s an untenable model that ex- ists nowhere else in Canada and must be changed.’” The group also argues the 2,000 square kilometres of land and $200 million for the Nisga’a claim is too much. " “]f the province is confident that it is a good deal for all British Columbians, it should welcome the opportunity to put it to a provincial election, rather than fearing the acid test of democracy,”’ Brown added. B.C. aboriginal affairs minister John Cashore has said there will be no referendum on the Nisga’a agreement, ad- ding that would be.a divisive and pointless exercise. Tn addition to Brown, the Citizens’ Voice on Native ‘Claims seven-member board of directors includes Van- ‘couver lawyer Harry Bell Irving Q.c., B.C. Cattlemen’s ‘Association rep and former B.C. Treaty Commissioner Lorne Greenaway, former MP and federal minister of In- dustry and small business Ronald Huntington, B.C. Beam -Trawlers Association and B,C, Shellfish Growers Assacia- ‘tlon rep Debra Logan. There were 48 people involved in the fraudulent claims, the other 40 false records were never used. . The claims were filed in 1995-96 and most people had ‘already left Prince Rupert, travelling as far east as Wind- sor, Ontario, when investigators began their work. “But they were not difficult to locate and those cases were tumed over to a federal collection agency, explained Smith, Unless there was evidence of fraudulent intent, most of the offenders were given the benefit of the doubt and had to repay only the amount of the benefit paid out. 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